Joystick Jury
This month, the Gloucester Computing Club reviews the latest software releases. Evaluating the batch this month is the Gloucester Computing Club.

Ad Astra

(Gargoyle Games)

Apollo

(Darkstar)

Castle Blackstar

(SCR Adventures)

Defenda

(Interstella Software)

Defusion / Worms

(K-Tel)

Disco Dan

(GEM Software)

Fire and Ice

(Electric Software)

Glug Glug

(CRL)

Grid Bug

(Add On Electronics)

Infernal Combustion

(Strange Loop)

Laser Warp

(Mikro-Gen)

Moon Buggy

(Visions Software)

Mummy, Mummy

(Lothlorien)

Sorcery

(Virgin Games)

Specgraf

(Anirog Software)

Trashman

(New Generation Software)

Trom

(Dk'Tronics)

62

Talking of Toolkits
Essential for software development, toolkits are often billed
as the programmer's 'tools of the trade'. Peter Freebrey takes
five such packages on the bench and examines whether they
fulfill their promise.

Master Toolkit

(OCP)

Super Toolkit

(Nectarine)

TT-S Gamma

(Timedata)

ZX Toolkit

(Star Dreams)

ZXED

(Dk'Tronics)

Software Features

21

Jet Set Willy - Hacking Away
We've had so many pleading letters and phone calls asking for the
POKEs Andrew Pennell used to 'enhance' Jet Set Willy ... that we just had to publish
them.
That, and the multitude of suggestions sent in by our faithful readership!
(letter)

Hacking at the Wulf
Hacker Dave Nicholls cracks Ultimate's latest wide open - but, in the end, was it worth it?

Hardware Features

30

Facing Up To Printers
Logic and software designer John Flenley subscribes to the philosophy that if you can't afford to buy a custom-built unit, you should try and solder-it-yourself. In the first half of his two-part feature, John takes you through the hardware involved in a Centronics interface.
(letter); (letter)

Programming

11

Spectrum Control
Project 5: Machine Code Countdown.

24

Bang Goes Your Code
Has the razzle-dazzle gone out of your programs? Simon Lane's got some explosive ideas to stun you ...

56

All Change!
Ever wanted to rename a Microdrive file? Providing the code to create the necessary new command, Andrew Pennell brings Microdrives one step nearer the expensive disk systems they emulate.

59

Graphic DefinitionsToni Baker provides a foolproof way of redefining any graphics character. Defining graphics on paper can be an arduous task - especially when the finished item on-screen looks nothing like you imagined it. Toni Baker's got a much better idea ... and she's backed it up with machine code to boot!
(letter)

Program PowerGround Attack by Antony Crawford and Connections by D R Tose are the offerings for you to tap in and play. Two great games for your 48K Spectrum - arcade action from Antony Crawford and a popular puzzler from D R Tose.

Books

13

Frontlines

Overcoming Dyslexia

(Martin Dunitz)

47

Paperdata: Games People PlayPhil Cornes goes in search of his ideal games book. In pursuit of the definitive games book, Phil Cornes and Mike Turner corner a selection of tomes, getting to grips with them all, be they good, bad or just plain ugly.

20 Programs for the ZX Spectrum

49 Explosive Games for the ZX Spectrum

(Interface Publications)

60 Games & Applications for the ZX Spectrum

(Interface Publications)

60 Programs for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum

(Pan Books)

Creating Arcade Games on Your Spectrum

(Interface Publications)

Games for Your ZX Spectrum

(Virgin Books)

Games to Play on Your ZX Spectrum

(Shiva Publishing)

Instant Arcade Games for the ZX Spectrum

(Pan Books)

Over the Spectrum

(Melbourne House)

The Spectrum Book of Games

(Granada)

Spectrum Spectacular

(V&H Computer Services)

Interviews

80

Nick Alexander & Steve Webb (Virgin Games) Phil Manchester tracks down Nick Alexander and Steve Webb of Virgin Games to hear their latest plans. Nick Alexander and Steve Webb are no longer virgins in the
software field - Phil Manchester takes a
stroll up Portobello Road to check on how Virgin Games have
beefed up their act.

Competitions

63

Hippodrome Competition
Win a year's membership to one of London's trendiest nightspots. Your Spectrum, in association with the management of the London Hippodrome, is deliriously happy to announce ... The Great Animated Logo Competition.

Input-Output
Make friends, publicise your club or swop your software - all for free!

QL User

51

QL NewsQL User appears each month within the pages of Your Spectrum. Look out for the 'Complete Dossier' edition - in the shops now! QL User: The Complete Dossier, The Sinclair QL Companion, Demise of the QL 'kludge'.

52

The Psion Writers
If you subscribe to the motto, "It's the software that maketh the hardware", then Psion have a lot to answer for. Surya asked the authors of the QL's bundled software, Charles Davies (Archive), Martin Stamp (Quill), Martin Brown (Easel) and Colly Myers (Abacus), what they'd set out to achieve.